University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

Page 19 text:

After the depression hit, Baker expressed his concern in that the College should aid in the problem of conserving and developing natural resources and that the College equipment could be used in the fight against the economic slump. Despite the depression, the institution grew both physically and spiritually. In 1933 Governor Ely submitted a bill to the N.R.A. program for a new library and boy ' s dormitory for the College. In 1934 Goodell Library, named in honor of the late President, and Thatcher Hall, in honor of former President Roscoe Thatcher who had died the preceding December, were completed. The curriculum reflected depression effects: special Physical Education courses offered for recreational and playground instruction; introduction of vocational courses in summer school curriculum to aid unemployed; increased enrollment by many who couldn ' t afford privately-endowed institutions. This last factor presented a problem due to limited facilities. It was this early depression period which saw sororities move into houses of their own; the opening of the Campus Store at North College; the establishment of Thursday morning convocations; and the publication of Dr. Frank Prentice Rand ' s YESTERDAYS AT MASSACHUSETTS STATE COLLEGE to which we owe a great deal in the writing of this history. In his 1935 report. President Baker could list the following accomplishments: 1. Improvements in training and research. 2. Improved opportunities for study and extracurricular interests; more cultural opportunities. 3. Better student leadership and representation. 4. Campus used more for educational meetings of various organizations. 5. Recognized need for planning for increased student body. 6. Increased extension service. Yet President Baker was worried; the College couldn ' t possibly take all those who wished to enroll, at least not without physical additions and salary raises for the staff. Its being grouped with penal and charitable State institutions, financial control was a handicap. This fear of security was given a touch of sadness by the death of former President Kenyon Butterfield on Nov. 26, 1935- In this same year, an agitation movement was started to bring about a Bachelor of Arts degree. As this would require a great change in program and possibly alienate groups with agricultural interests in the College, President Baker didn ' t push for the degree at this time. A look at the College in the years 1936 to 1939 can serve as an example of the modern advances made by this institution. In 1936 the Women ' s Athletic Field was dedicated--a representative symbol of how the status of co-eds had risen. All freshman men were living on campus for the first time and all students enjoyed the extensive improvement of classrooms and labs. The total of credits was reduced from 72 to 60, and the required courses of the first two years were liberalized. The B.A. award was finally introduced; President Baker pxsinted out that the widening scope of the College had been a good sign and that the liberalizing movement was legal enough in that the Morrill Act of 1862 hadn ' t stipulated that it was necessary for a state-supported school to be concerned with agriculture only. A Campus Planning Council was organized to work on a building plan for the coEege— to provide a map for the new building locations, including dormitories for the rising enrollment. (The undergraduate body reached a high of 1208 in Sept. of 1939.) An allotment of $63,000 was received for renovating South College; the State appropriated $55,000 to the school for damage incurred due to the 1938 hurricane. Two more dormitories— Lewis House and Butterfield House, which were completed respectively in 1940 and 1941— were started by the Alumni Building Corporation. The founding of Isogon organization in 1940 ran parallel to the establishment of another org anization of a totally different nature. This organization was a committee created to make a study of facilities and services which the College could offer in case the United States became involved in war. Following this, a College Defense Council was set up. Later, the College announced that it could accept a program of training civilian pilots and of giving refresher courses to industrial workers. These precautions were not futile; on the contrary, they were just the beginning steps in a long program, for when the U.S. entered the Second World War, M.S.C. launched an all-out program of training and defense Like all other institutions of American life, M.S.C. had to adapt itself to a new pattern of living due to the wartime crisis.

Page 18 text:

East Experiment Station 1910 Butterfield ' s growing ambitions for the College and the State House ' s attempts to systematize the business of the State were approaching head on. Two important amendments to the State Constitution were passed; One providing that no State funds would go to any institution that wasn ' t part of the public control and the other providing that the General Court organize State activities into twenty departments. After the passing of the first amendment, the College succeeded in dissolving itself as a corporation and in having its maintenance provided for by the State. Therefore, after the second amendment, the College was placed in the Department of Education. Financial trouble brewed almost immediately between the State House and the Departments, the former attempting to keep expenses low, the latter trying to increase their resources. The relations between the College and the State government thickened with red tape. Unhappy because of the situation, Butterfield resigned in 1924. Dr. Lewis guided the College until 1927, continually arguing that the College could not be efficiently administered by the Commission of Administration and Finance. Somewhat of a victory was won in 1926 when acting-President Lewis and company petitioned the General Court and Governor Fuller signed the bill which provided that nothing would stand in the way to harm the powers of the Trustees of the College. By the initiation of the new President in 1933, the In terfraternity Sing, Maroon Key, Homecoming Day and departmental honors work had been established. Alpha Gamma Rho, Sigma Beta Chi, Lambda Delta Nu, Alpha Lambda Mu,and Phi Zeta had been organized. In February of 1933, President Hugh Potter Baker, who relieved President Thatcher, outlined his policies for M.S.C., the change of name having come in 1931, after much agitation. His aim for the College was to produce men and women equipped not only with specific education but also with culture and understanding. Baker believed that a College should aid the students by inciting enthusiasm; he expressed the importance of keeping down expenses.

Page 20 text:

Draper Hall in the days of dirt roads and horses One big problem of the administration was to convince the male students that they should complete their college education before entering the service; the students were told that everyone had a job in the war effort and that theirs was right here at school. A 12 week summer course was instituted to shorten the four year course to three; a training program was set up including a required physical fitness course for all men, a campus air-raid program, and special courses in map reading, first aid and public health. An enlisted reserve program was organized; in 1944, 132 of these reservists were called. Prof. Ralph A. Van Meter was appointed associate Dean to handle educational and administrative problems arising from the arrival of U.S. Army cadets for five months of educational courses. Dormitories were converted into military barracks; fraternity houses served as homes for undergraduate women; the sororities remained intact (a few of them joined national affiliates during this period ). Campus Community Chest, scrap metal drives, and bond appeals were organized; ration books were given out to the students. Less and less men entered the College; the women outnumbered the men 203 to 73 in the Sept., 1943 registration. The Stockbridge Course was temporarily shortened to one year. Commencement exercises were shortened to keep up with the wartime economy. There were approximately 2700 faculty, students and alumni serving in the armed forces. As the end of the war approached, the mental attitude of both faculty and student body reverted to college living. Fraternity rushing was revived and in April of 1945 the Scrolls were organized. The Alumni introduced a measure for more self-liquidating dormitories to meet the need of the returning veterans, those on the G.I. Bill, civilians who had postponed their education, and the regular flow of students. A new movement was in the making to change the name of the College to the University of Massachusetts. The September registration of 1945 opened in an atmosphere of peace. It was like a breath of fresh air for this institution which had survived the economic perils of a depression, a hurricane and a world war. The post-war era was marked by a renewal of old student organizations, the birth of new ones, and a revival of sports and extra-curricular activities. President Baker recognized the need for the extension of higher education at this time. In 1946 a committee of leading educators set up a two year program at Fort Devens as a branch of Mass. State College to provide for the overflow of veterans. This service ran until 1949.